A Trip Into the Hive

Brian VanIwarden

Parts of the Hive

On average there are about 50k bees in a hive during the summer

Honey Super

Frame w/ wax

foundation

Brood in combBrood Chamber

“Deep”Hive Entrance

Types of Honey BeesThere are

approx. 25k different

species of bees

Needed to fertilize a virgin queen. Are only found during

the summer months.

Male- takes 24 days to hatch.

Lives for two weeks.

Female- 21 days to

hatch. Lives for 6 weeks

in the summer. 3 months in

winter. Why?

Female-16 days to hatch.

Same DNA as a worker. Lives 2-3

years.

Takes care of larva & collects

pollen to produce honey.

Queens Same DNA as a worker, but fed a very nutrient

rich diet of “Royal Jelly” in the larva stage.

Lay approximately 2000 eggs/day. Do not lay

during the winter.

Have one nuptial flight after emergence. Mate with multiple drones.

Control the bees with pheromone unique to the

hive.

Life Cycle

Bees do not hibernate (cluster). Will become

active if temps reach 60 ͦ F

Larva pupates into an adult bee

Eggs are fed & hatch into a larva

Queen lays eggs in the comb.

Swarming

A swarm

Because of overcrowding, Supercedure cells are laid by the queen before the

swarm leaves

Can also be drawn out if the queen dies

Pollen/NectarPollen is digested &

regurgitated into honey & wax

6 lbs of honey =1 lb wax

Visit flowers within a two mile radius

It takes 250k flowers = 1 ounce of

honey

Waggle dance to indicate the

direction to a food source

Stored Pollen

Can fly up to 15 mph

HoneyFlavor is unique to

flower source

1 gal=to a trip to the moon

7k miles flown/oz 1 bee makes ½ tsp honey

Only food that won’t spoil

Threats• CCD• Fear• Mites• Disease• Animals• Pesticides• Drought/Rain• Diminishing Farm Land

30% colony loss is normal each winter

Importance of Bees

• Pollination• Honey Production• Medicinal

Allergies

1 million hives are needed to

pollinate crops each year

1/3 of all foods (3/4 of all plants) are pollinated by

bees

Questions?